A Nigerian student who has battled illness and fought to remain in the U.S. since moving to Michigan more than a decade ago will be allowed to stay under legislation that received final congressional approval Tuesday and was headed to President Barack Obama for his signature. U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., sponsored the legislation that the U.S. House passed on a voice vote Tuesday. It allows Sopuruchi Chukwueke - who goes by the name Victor - to remain in the U.S. despite the expiration of his visa. According to Levin's office, Chukwueke was born into poverty in Nigeria and diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that affects the growth of nerve cells and led to tumors deforming his face. After his parents put Chukwueke in an orphanage, Catholic nuns there made arrangements to bring him to the U.S. for treatment when he was 15. Chukwueke moved to Southfield and he underwent seven surgeries over the next 11 years. Meanwhile, he graduated from Wayne State University with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and chemical biology and had a 3.82 grade point average. The Detroit Free Press front page story includes photos.

http://www.freep.com/article/20121219/NEWS06/312190124/Congress-action-puts-Nigerian-closer-to-medical-school-dream?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-18/congress-says-yes-to-one-man-dream-act-.html